By Kevin Collison
A development plan that would demolish a century-old former bank at 1822 Main in the Crossroads and replace it with a $25 million office building was endorsed by a Port KC committee Monday.
The development committee also was briefed on a proposed 300- to 350-unit apartment project that would be located between The Union Berkley Riverfront apartments and Bar K if a deal can be reached with its prospective developer.
The office project on Main Street would be developed by Panoge LLC for the Stueve Siegel Hanson law firm. The project calls for three-levels of office to be built above a three-level, 120-space parking garage. It would included retail space along the sidewalk.
Attorney David Frantze said the law firm, which employs 40- to 50 people, would occupy one floor of the 45,000 square foot building, with the two other office levels available for lease.
The garage would be available for public parking after hours and weekends. The project also is on the streetcar line which Frantze said reduced the need for dedicated parking.
The proposed office building would require the demolition of an old bank and two adjoining properties, which in recent years have been used as night clubs.
The bank originally opened in 1915 as the Southwest Boulevard State Bank and had been considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in a survey done for the city in the early 1980s.
That listing however, was not pursued and the building has no landmark protection.
The developer’s request for a 25-year property tax abatement was endorsed by the Port KC development committee. It would follow the new City Council guidelines with a 75 percent abatement the first 10 years and 37.5 percent the remaining 15 years.
The developer also plans to seek additional economic activity-based tax incentives from the city.
If the necessary approvals are obtained, construction would start this fall with completion anticipated in April 2021.
The potential apartment project proposed for Port KC property is still in the planning and negotiation stage, according to Port KC.
It’s being looked at for an 8-acre site between Bar K, a popular dog park, bar and cafe that opened last summer and the 410-unit Union apartment development completed last year.
Port KC officials declined to identify the potential developer.
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I appreciate all your stories.
Thank you!
I don’t know what’s left of the inside of the bank, but it’s a shame to lose that façade (though I see, from the 20s photo, it once had a pediment that’s already gone).
People should insist that the facade be incorporated – it’s just another instance of short-sighted tear-down syndrome. Here in LA they would insist – but maybe history is now more prized out here after years of wiping it out. The rendering of the proposed building is plug-ugly and needs to be rethought at any rate!
if it were me I’d keep the facade of the bank and build around and atop it incorporating it into the larger structure.
A shame to bulldoze away a small gorgeously proportioned building that is a part of Kansas City’s history.
That would be such an awesome entrance to an appt complex. Demolishing that is just short sighted, its flat out lazy, and the fact that their architect didn’t propose that is a pretty bad sign for what this thing will end up being.
Hey guys the old picture doesn’t accurately show what this building looks like now. It’s in terrible shape, I walk by it daily and it is a complete eye sore. I am not one to necessarily jump on the “new is better” bandwagon but in this instance this would be a good move. The additional parking on the street will also help other Main Street businesses that have limited parking options on or near that block. This would be a good addition to this part of the Crossroads.
The article I’m looking at includes a photo of the building today as well as the one from the 1920s. I don’t know if you understand that not the whole facáde would be kept, just the original 1920s portion which looks just great. I’m very familiar with the building and that portion could be incorporated very easily. What they’ve rendered is cr*p.
This beautiful, classical limestone facade, cut and carved by gifted artisans from the glory days of American commercial architecture, is one of a small handful of such structures surviving from a formerly prosperous time in our city. It should not meet the same fate as countless other edifices sacrificed for a parking lot. Hey Shirley Helzberg…HELP! I’m sure with a little thought, this treasure could be salvaged and moved to a new home, perhaps on the Westside or maybe even at 18th and Vine. I for one am still in shock from the near total annihilation of the Lyric Theater at 11th and Central, whose western façade was sacrificed so that someone will have a view while sweating away on an elliptical trainer. When a city’s growth is at the expense of a city’s beauty, we sell ourselves short. This city is on the verge of redefining entire districts in the urban core, which have endured long decades of neglect and decay. Let’s at least try to save the remaining worthy examples of fine craftsmanship and architectural excellence. Derek, though in need of some cleaning up, the façade is great shape. And I must agree with Jesse’s post. The proposed building is rather unimaginative and, well, bordering on ugly.
Please developers reading this… Build baby build! This sketchy building needs to go! Trust me, none of us that call Crossroads home (AKA your new neighbors) will miss it at all. Thank you.
Sorry Derek, but it would be missed. Over close to a 40 year period I’ve watched as treasure after treasure was torn down because of someone’s lack of taste.
The question is not whether or not to build a building but what quality of design will result.
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